East Lansing city officials are calling for student volunteers to serve on city boards and commissions, particularly one geared to forge a connection between the MSU student body and the East Lansing community.
Eleven positions remain open on the University Student Commission, an advisory board to the city council that provides input on legislation and policies that affect students.
The members are set to be decided when the fall semester begins.
The commission consists of a blend of general at-large members as well as representatives for campus organizations, such as ASMSU and the greek governing bodies.
“It’s a great organization,” Mayor Vic Loomis said. “I’ve appreciated and enjoyed the opportunity to work with them.”
Loomis said the University Student Commission — first created in 1996 — helped shape several major ordinances in East Lansing this past year, including the city’s medical marijuana ordinance that regulates the location of dispensaries in East Lansing.
The commission also gave input on the new East Lansing party litter ordinance, which introduced a tiered fine system to hold residents accountable for multiple offenses on their property, and the medical amnesty bill, which, if passed, would offer students under 21 legal protection when seeking alcohol-related medical treatment for themselves or others.
Political theory and constitutional democracy junior Stephen Wooden, who worked on the University Student Commission for the last two years and recently was appointed to the Planning Commission, said the students’ perspectives in city affairs can result in more creative solutions.
“It’s something very unique amongst young students,” Wooden said.
Wooden said in addition to helping shape the party litter ordinance, last year’s University Student Commission also thought up new ways to educate students on the ordinance.
Next year, the commission will continue to provide input on a pending snow removal ordinance, which would specify the time frame in which residents would be required to remove snow from their properties and subject them to tiered fine system for failure to comply, Loomis said.
Wooden said he also hopes the future University Student Commission develops a way to include students in the city’s nonmotorized transportation plan.
The city council likely will not make a decision on the snow removal ordinance until the new commission is formed in the fall to hear students’ input, Loomis said.
Ten other city boards and commissions have vacancies as well, including the Art Selection Panel and the Transportation Commission.
Loomis said members are selected through appointment, including an interview process with the city council.
Elementary education junior Shelby Schulte, who lives off campus in East Lansing, said the East Lansing business sector connects well with the MSU student body, but community events are not as well known.
“I feel like I don’t know about events not organized by MSU,” she said.
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